Bcvent's Story - (Unusual Case of Diffusion, age 19)

[bcvent]

I have been losing my hair since age 12 (currently 19). The top of my head is very thin and patchy. No hairline recession. The first picture was taken a year ago with my hair slightly longer (but not by much); the second picture is recent. I currently use the Therapro Mediceuticals Numinox Hair Restoration Program (shampoo, vitamins, energizing scalp spray). I have been on the program for a year and have completely maintained my hair (and maybe had some slight regrowth). I have not seen many others on this site who have had a similar experience, especially at such a young age. Any advice would be appreciated.

--RV

[attachment=1:3e0q3x7q]DAY1OCT9.jpg[/attachment:3e0q3x7q]

[attachment=0:3e0q3x7q]Dec. 3 2008.jpg[/attachment:3e0q3x7q]

 

[monitoradiation]

Have you seen a physician about this yet? It seems from your first picture that even the side is diffusely thinning out which suggests to me that it might not be male pattern baldness that you're suffering from, but maybe mineral deficiencies or thyroid problems of some sort? You even said yourself that it is unusual... So I would first get bloodwork done and a physical.

 

[bcvent]

I mentioned it to my doctor a few years ago at my physical. He described it as “scattered thinningâ€￾ a He recommended Rogaine and told me it may or may not work. The following year when he looked at my hair he said that the thinning had stopped and never suggested any further testing. Thank you for the advice. I will seek additional evaluation after the semester.

 

[monitoradiation]

Yeah, I would follow it up, it would at least remove the unknown factor. Don't be too scared to mention things to your doctor - they're there for your health (or at least they're supposed to be. Lord knows my physician tries pretty hard to maximize patient/time ratio)

 

[bcvent]

Are the tests you've suggested part of a standard physical or would I have to consult a specialist because I'm fairly sure I have had some sort of blood testing in recent years?

 

[monitoradiation]

Well, if you've had one recently (after you've started noticing your hairloss) and it was done on request of your physician, I would say that'd be adequate. I'm just trying to rule out anything out of the ordinary so hopefully you wouldn't have to take meds for your hairloss, that's all.

 

[bcvent]

[attachment=2:jlzflufy]Dec 4, 2008- Top.jpg[/attachment:jlzflufy]
[attachment=3:jlzflufy]Dec 4, 2008- Back .jpg[/attachment:jlzflufy]
[attachment=0:jlzflufy]Dec 4, 2008- Side R.jpg[/attachment:jlzflufy]
[attachment=1:jlzflufy]Dec 4, 2008- Side L.jpg[/attachment:jlzflufy]

 

[monitoradiation]

It does look somewhat thin all around; have you had this all your life?

Luckily, your head shape is very favorable for a shaved look. You might wanna shave it down and see how you like that :3

 

[treeshrew]

why not try finasteride/minoxidil? (in the case it is standard male pattern baldness which i'm not sure it is)

 

[bcvent]

My hair was perfectly normal early in my childhood; it really became a problem around 7th-8th grade. I had long hair then, a really noticeable bald spot on the crown, and thinning all over. The worst shedding occurred between the end of my freshman year and the middle of my junior year of high school.

I kept my hair long throughout high school; I started shaving my head the summer before my freshman year of college. I have tried various lengths from really short, to where it is in the second picture (which I consider somewhere in the middle), to slightly longer. I have never completely shaved my hair off with a razor blade.

I currently use the Therapro Regimen that I mentioned earlier. It contains 2% minoxidil, saw palmetto, and an assortment of other ingredients that have maintained my hair and kept it remarkably healthy. I have considered the possibility of supplementing with finasteride.

 

[monitoradiation]

Well at this point I'd have to say that it depends on what you want out of your hair. If you have plenty of friends who're friends with you still, they'll be there whether you have hair or not.

Most guys I think start coming on here because when they started losing hair they lost a part of themselves that they don't know how to get back. Since you'd had it for like 1/3 of your life already, it's probably a part of your identity; while getting great hair through medications might be a pleasant surprise, right now we don't know if that'll happen, or if it does, how long it can be maintained and at what cost.

If you're going to take 50% of your time everyday worrying about maintaining the hair you've gained through an expensive regimen and still lose it 10 years down the road and be at square one, it might not be worth it to you, since it's never been an important factor in your life thus far.

Just some food for thought and (I think) honest advice.